Why Legalizing Marijuana Makes Sense, Essay Example

Although there are many positive reasons for it, the legalization of marijuana can have a large negative effect on our society.  The idea behind legalization is supported in its cost-effectiveness.  Billions of dollars can be saved on legal costs and incarceration that would no longer be needed, and the taxes earned on the sale of marijuana could help the nation’s economy.  But for all the research that has been done on the drug, there is still much that we don’t know in regards to its potential effect on society.  Despite its debatable long-term affects on the respiratory and other systems, it is unquestionable that marijuana affects our memory and reflex capabilities.  Legalization can increase usage, and the probability of the people working under the influence could rise drastically.  Also, marijuana’s role as a ‘gateway drug’ into trying more dangerous substances – like narcotics – could increase as its availability increases.   Should that happen, do we then have to make all drugs legal? We may save money on law enforcement, but the cost of health care for people who overdose or develop diseases due to usage would skyrocket.  It is the government’s responsibility to protect its people, and legalizing marijuana may put us on a path that could lead to an unhealthier nation.  It is important that laws remain in place to guarantee our overall welfare.